Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-04-29

men at the brewery and the old Negro
La ridden on his car. A grocer's mar
who happened 10 be driving by had seer
this man and identified him as Loften.
When the officers came to his house
Loiten was writing, and upon being told
that he was wanted went at once, think-
ing there was some mistake which could
be easily explained, and it was not until
brought before the magistrate that he
learned that he was charged with mur-
der.
He told his stoy, as we rave already
done above, anl pleaded his innocence,
but the evidence against him seemed
too. strong, and he was sent to prison tc
await trial.
No one else had seen the two tramps,
nor could any traces Of them be found.
Loften lay awake all night in his cell.
lie knew that he was innocent, but how
was he TO prove itl He had always had
a stainless reputation, and now he wa,
IN prison accused Of murdorl He
thought Of the grief and shame it would
cause to his friends. Then he broke
down and cried like a child.
After that he remembered nothing.
When the jailer came with his break
fast he found him staring at the blank
wall of his cell. lie spoke to him, but
the prisoner did not move. Lolten
was mad.
He was committed to an insane asylum,
but the judge made a stipulation that if he
should ever recover his reason he should
be tried for murder.
For seven years Charles Loften was in
he asylum. lie ate and slept and was
taken out to walk by nurse with some
Of the other pat ents, but he never spoke
and he never appeared to notice any
one or any, hing.
At the end of seven years his reason
suddenly returned. Everything was
clear up to the night of his imprison-
ment, but of the timo he had spent in
the asylum he remembered nothing.
The court was notified that he had re-
covered his reason, and time was set
for his trial.
On the night before Charles Loften's
trial robbery was attempted in a neigh
boring town.
Between one and two in the morning
the owner Of handsome place on the
outskirts Of the town was awakened and
thought he heard some one moving in
tie Apuse, He got up and went to his
door and found that some one was fnos
ing about in the library.
The house was lighted by electricity,
and by press ug button at the head OF
the stairs the light could be turned on
all over the first floor.
This he did, and in an instant every
room was lighted.
Two men who had been cropping about
in the darkness were at frs blinded and
stupeficd by the bright light coming so
suddenly, then they came to their senses
and ran, and as the proprietor hurried
down stairs he saw them running through
the house and escaping by side door.
As the men crossed the yard the night
watchman saw them and fired his pistol.
The foremost MN fell, but the other
made good his escape.
On the first day of Loften's trial a jury
had been selected, a few witnesses had
been called and the court had adjourned.
On the second day of the trial,
just a the third witness was about to
take the stand, a note was handed tc
the judge.
1t stated that, on examining the
wounds of the burglar who had beer
shot in the neighboring town two nights
before, it had been found that he could
not live, and on learning this the mar
ha made confession.
He said that seven or eight years be-
fore he and one of his companions had
murdered a man in Deal Mans Canoi
and robbed him of some valuable paper,
which he had in his possession. HI
knew Il at an innocent man had beer
arrested, but thought he would be ac
/ quittel He had afterwards learned tha
the man, whose name was Charles Loftcn
had become insane and had been PLACED
in an asylum
The man who listened to the story
knowing that Loften was now on trial TO
this crime, had sent for justice and haG
the man make an affidavit, which he had
sent at once to the court.
When the judge ha read the note thr
affidavit was sworn to, and Charles Lof
ten, after seven years Imprisonment for
crime he had never committed. was ono,
more at liberty New York CIR aphic.